Container suspension device



Aug. 12, 1969 R. w. McKlRDY ET AL 3,460,789

CONTAINER SUSPENSION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 12, 1966 INVENTORS.

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CONTAINER SUSPENSION DEVICE Filed April 12, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,460,789 CONTAINER SUSPENSION DEVICE Robert W. McKirdy, Scarsdale, and Harvey J. Engelsher,

Yonkers, N.Y., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Horizon Industries, Ltd., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 542,434 Int. Cl. A47b 73/00; A61m 5/14 US. Cl. 248-146 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container suspension device including a member having an acute angular cross-section. The handle of the container engages with an element projecting outwardly from one leg of the angular member and serves to locate the container in contacting, wedging relation with the other leg of said angular member.

This invention relates generally to a contanier suspen sion device, and more particularly, to an apparatus which restricts movement of a container suspended therefrom.

According to the technique of intravenous infusion as presently practiced, containers of fluid hang from slotted cross-bars high on an adjustable stand. These must be lowered to a point within reach of the operator when substitution or replacement of a fluid is required. Such change over procedures are time-consuming in a situation where delay can be embarrassing.

Glass fluid-containers, as presently used, are hung from open hooks and are thus free to Swing and collide with one another. Under such conditions the risk of breakage is always present. But according to our invention, an operator may suspend containers so that their peudency shall be disturbed in one direction only, that is, toward the patient. It is often necessary during intravenous infusion procedures, when the needle must be manipulated, that its connecting tube be moved in the direction of the patient. By the use of our invention, movement of the tube is restricted to that one direction only, thereby avoiding the risk of dislodgment and/or breakage of the bottles.

A further object of this invention is to furnish the user continuous identification of the containers contents by preventing the spinning movement of the containers, thereby maintaining their labels oriented towards the user. The containers presently used turn freely about their axes, concealing the view of their labels thereby.

A still further object of this invention is to prevent the hazard of an operators mistaking one flow-control valve for another and so causing an unsuitable fluid to flow through the intravenous needle. According to the arrangement of the apparatus in current use, tubes coming from bottles which are bunched together become crossed and twisted between their bottles and their corresponding needles. Consequently, it happens that tubes containing colorless transparent fluids are not always traceable individually to their sources high above the operator. By the use of our invention such entanglement of tubes is not possible since the containers are permanently equidistanced from each other and their corresponding tubes are also equally spaced and distinct at the eye-level control console below.

The present invention suggests the provision of six different containers of intravenous fluids, but such apparent limitation of the capacity of the apparatus is merely in the interests of convenient demonstration. A larger number of such containers may be accommodated by increasing the concomitant design dimensions appropriately.

Although the aforementioned novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be referred to in the annexed claims, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages and the manner in which it may be applied, may be better understood by reference to the following description which is accompanied by drawings forming a part hereof in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the container suspension device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the container suspension device illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are side elevational views of the container suspension device illustrating container of varying size being suspended therefrom; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Referring further to the drawings in which like reference characters throughout the several views indicate like parts, FIG. 2 shows a top view of elongated suspension members, 11 having peg elements, 2, 3 and 4 with 1000 cc., 500 cc. and 250 cc. capacity containers 10, 20 and 30 respectively, shown in place. The suspension members 11 are rigidly attached to the top 5 of telescopically adjustable member 6 (FIG. 1). A wire p bail handle 8 as usually supplied is attached to the container as its preferred means of suspension. Telescopically adjustable member 6 moves within tubular member 29 to which is fixed valve-support-plate bracket 9 within which sliding member 26 moves horizontally and can be locked in desired position by knurled screw 27. Sliding member 26 supports valve-support plate 7-7 on which control-valves 25 (6 in number) are mounted. Knurled screw 27 within slot 28.

Valves 25 serve to control the flow rate of fluids passing through tubes 14, one end of said tubes 14 being connected to the discharge end of the respective containers. A detailed description of the construction and operation of valves 25 is not deemed necessary since said valves 25 form no part of the present invention.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, suspension member 1 is illustrated as an elongated bracket having an acute angular cross-section with one leg portion 11 thereof disposed in a given plane and the other leg portion 12 extending upwardly therefrom. Leg portion 12 is provided with the plurality of spaced peg elements 2, 3 and 4 projecting outwardly therefrom and located in positions of varying distance from the apex of bracket 1. In operation, the container is suspended from bracket 1 by passing bail handle 8 over a selected peg and into engagement therewith; said selection being dependent upon the size of the handles as at 8A, 8B and 8C. In each case, the flat surface portion 13 of the container can then be located in contacting, wedging relation with the bottom surface of leg portion 11 of bracket 1 to thus restrict movement of said container relative to said bracket. If desired, each of said peg elements 2, 3 and 4 may be provided with a groove or slot 15 located at the juncture of the base portion thereof and leg portion 12 for receiving and retaining a portion of handle 8.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein a plurality of triangular-shaped, open ended projections 2', 3' and 4' are stamped out of leg portion 12; said projections serving to selectively engage with handle 8 in the manner heretofore described.

The descriptive terms used herein are not intended to have limiting effect to the extent of excluding the use of substitute but equivalent features, since the inventors recognize the practicability of such modifications lying within the scope of their invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for suspending a container, said container having a flat surface portion and bail handle means connected to the container for suspending said container; said apparatus comprising:

(a) a base member; and

(b) suspension means extending from the base member;

() said suspension means including a member having an acute angular cross-section;

((1) one leg of said angular member being disposed in a given plane and the other leg extending upwardly therefrom; and

(e) means projecting outwardly from said other leg of the angular member for engaging the container handle means and to locate the flat surface portion of said container in contacting, wedging relation with the bottom surface of said one leg of the angular member.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said one leg of the angular member is in a substantially horizontal plane.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said engaging means comprises a plurality of elements located in positions of varying distance from the apex of said angular member for selectively engaging container bail handles of respectively varying size for locating the flat UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,680,000 6/1954 Pulver 2518 2,696,963 12/1954- Shepherd 128214 XR 2,954,028 9/1960 Smith 128214 FOREIGN PATENTS 775,476 5/1957 Great Britain.

FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

